Racket



Dec. 19, 1939. v s so 2,183,925

RACKET Filed March 14, 1939- 2 Sheets-Sheet l- I G. H. SIMPSON 2,183,925

Dec. 19, 1939.

RACKET v Filed March 14, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I K% J.6.

Inventor Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES RACKET George H. Simpson, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application March 14,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to rackets, that is to say rackets of the type used in the playing of tennis, badminton, and similar. games.

An object of the invention is to provide a racket which is substantially unbreakable at the shaft or handle part thereof, and which at the same time will have maximum driving power because of increased resiliency and elasticity, and will otherwise be an improvement over racket constructions as now known and used.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tennis racket illustrating the invention as applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the tennis racket at the throat or wedge end thereof, showing said part of the racket provided in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the handle portion of the racket further illustrating certain details of the invention.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the handle further illustrating the invention.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrating the application of the invention to a badminton racket.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional View through the handle and throat portion of the badminton racket illustrating the application of the invention thereto, and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line l'l of Figure 5'.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that the racket, whether a tennis racket or a badminton racket, is of conventional construction insofar as it embodies the usual frame 6, carrying the strings I, the wedge or head 8, and handle 9.

In applying the invention either to a tennis racket or to. a badminton racket, there are provided in the front and rear sides of the head or wedge 8 of the racket and extending longitudinally of the handle 9 to approximately the grip portion of the handle grooves Ill.

Positioned within the grooves H] are elongated strips of resilient metal II, and at one end the strips II are provided with inturned portions l2 that fit in sockets l3 provided therefor at the ends of the grooves terminating in the head or wedge 8 of the racket.

Thus, as clearly shown in Figure 6, the resil- 1939, Serial No. 261,810

ient rods l l bridge the joint l4 between the head 8 and the handle 9 of the racket.

After the resilient strips II are properly positioned within the grooves It provided therefor there is wrapped about the wedge portion 8 and a material portion of the handle 9 of the racket astrip l5 of rawhide, vellum, or similar material. The covering or wrapping l5 of rawhide or vellum or similar material prevents the cracking and splitting of the handle, and acting in com- 10 bination with the wood of the handle and throat 8 and with the resilient spring members ll creates a multiple ply shaft that is substantially unbreakable when the racket is in use.

It will also be found, in actual practice, that 5 such construction gives to the handle or shaft unusual resiliency and greater elasticity making for faster play and greater driving power.

It will also be apparent that the invention is equally applicable to all types of rackets, tennis 20 rackets, badminton rackets, and similar racketbats.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of an invention of this character will be had without a more 25 detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A racket-bat embodying a string equipped frame having a head and a handle joined to said 30 head, said head andhandle having aligned longitudinal grooves on opposite sides thereof, and resilient metal bars fitting in said grooves and bridging the joint between said head and handle, and a wrapping of rawhide or suitable material about said head and handle and extending above and below said joint and serving to retain said resilient element in said grooves said wrapping terminating in spaced relation to those ends of the rods which are located in the grooves of the head for exposing said ends.

2. A racket-bat embodying a string equipped frame having a head and a handle joined to said head, said head and handle having aligned longitudinal grooves on opposite sides thereof, and 45 resilient elements fitting in said grooves and bridging the joint between said head and handle, and a wrapping of rawhide or suitable material about said head and handle and extending above and below said joint and serving to retain said 50 resilient elements in said grooves, and said head at the terminals of the grooves therein being provided with sockets, and said resilient elements at one end thereof having right-angularly disposed terminals fitting within said sockets.

3. A racket-bat embodyinga string equipped frame having a head and a handle joined to said head, said head and handle having aligned longitudinal grooves on opposite sides thereof, and

51 resilient elements fitting in said grooves and bridging the joint between said head and handle, and a wrapping of rawhide or suitable material about said head and handle and extending above and below said joint and serving to retain said resilient elements in said grooves, and said head at the terminals of the grooves therein being pro- Vided with sockets, and said resilient elements at one end thereof having right-singularly disposed terminals fitting within said sockets, said resilient elements being in the form of lengths of resilient wire.

GEORGE H. SIMPSON. 

